Politics of Mauritania

Mauritanian MPs meeting with World Bank officials in 2011.

Mauritania is a presidential democracy, but has suffered from repeated military coups since its Independence in November 1960. For 18 years after independence, Mauritania was a one-party state under Moktar Ould Daddah. This was followed by decades of military rule. The first fully democratic presidential election in Mauritania occurred on 11 March 2007, which marked a transfer from military to civilian rule following the military coup in 2005. The election was won by Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was ousted by another military coup in 2008 and replaced by general Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. Mauretania underwent its first peaceful transition of power after the 2019 presidential election, although this was between two presidents of the ruling UPR party and former army generals.

Personalities have long exercised an important influence in the politics of Mauritania - the effective exercise of political power in the country depends on control over resources; perceived ability or integrity; and tribal, ethnic, family, and personal considerations. Conflict between white Moor, black Moor, and non-Moor ethnic groups, centering on language, land tenure, and other issues, continues to pose challenges to the idea of national unity.

Political administration

The government bureaucracy comprises traditional ministries, special agencies, and parastatal companies. The Ministry of Interior controls a system of regional governors and prefects modeled on the French system of local administration. Under this system, Mauritania has 13 regions (wilaya), including the capital district, Nouakchott.

Control remains tightly concentrated in the executive branch of the central government, but a series of national and municipal elections since 1992 have produced some limited decentralization.

Political history

Mauritania achieved independence from the French colonial empire in 1960. After independence, President Moktar Ould Daddah, originally installed by the French, formalized Mauritania into a one-party state in 1964 with a new constitution, which set up an authoritarian presidential regime. Daddah's own Parti du Peuple Mauritanien (PPM) became the ruling organization. The President justified this decision on the grounds that he considered Mauritania unready for western-style multi-party democracy. Under this one-party constitution, Daddah was reelected in uncontested elections in 1966, 1971 and 1976. Daddah was ousted in a bloodless coup on July 10, 1978.

A committee of military officers governed Mauritania from July 1978 to April 1992. A popular referendum approved the current Constitution in July 1991.

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's rule (1984-2005)

The Parti Républicain Démocratique et Social (PRDS), led by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, has dominated Mauritanian politics since the country's first multi-party elections in April 1992 following the approval by referendum of the current constitution in July 1991. President Taya, who won elections in 1992, 1997 and 2003, first became chief of state through a December 12, 1984, bloodless coup which made him Chairman of the committee of military officers that governed Mauritania from July 1978 to April 1992.

Political parties were legalized again in 1991. By April 1992, as civilian rule returned, 16 major political parties had been recognized; 12 major political parties were active in 2004. By April 1992, as civilian rule returned, 15 political parties had gained official recognition. Among the mostly small groupings, two main opposition parties emerged:

1. the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD).
2. the Action for Change (AC)--traditionally considered the party of the Haratines.

Most opposition parties boycotted the first legislative election in 1992, and for nearly a decade the Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS) dominated the Parliament. The opposition participated in municipal elections in January–February 1994 and in subsequent elections for the Senate, gaining representation at the local level as well as one seat in the Senate. Noting procedural changes and opposition gains in municipal and legislative contests, most local observers considered the October 2001 elections open and transparent. The opposition participated in municipal elections in January–February 1994 and subsequent Senate elections, most recently in April 2004, gaining representation at the local level as well as three seats in the Senate.

In October 2001, Mauritania held its third legislative and fifth municipal elections since the establishment of multi-party politics under the 1991 Constitution. In an effort to forestall the sort of widespread accusations of fraud and manipulation which had accompanied previous elections, the government introduced new safeguards, including published voter lists and a hard-to-falsify voter identification card. Reversing a trend of election boycotts, 15 opposition parties nominated candidates for more than 3,000 municipal posts and for the 81-member National Assembly. Four opposition parties won a combined 11 seats in the National Assembly and took 15% of the municipal posts. The ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), in conjunction with two coalition parties, won the remaining contests. See 2003 Mauritania election

Mauritania's presidential election, its third since adopting the democratic process in 1992, took place on November 7, 2003. Six candidates, including Mauritania's first female and first Haratine (former slave family) candidates, represented a wide variety of political goals and backgrounds. Incumbent President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya won re-election with 67.02% of the popular vote, according to the Official figures, with ex-head-of-state Col. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla finishing second.

Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya recognized the State of Israel, and started cooperating with the United States in antiterrorism activities.

A group identifying itself as the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD) overthrew the Taya Government on 3 August 2005 during the absence of the President in Saudi Arabia for King Fahd's funeral. The military dictatorship said it would remain in power for two years in order to allow time for implementing democratic institutions.

August 2005 military coup

In August 2005, a military coup led by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed Vall ended Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's 21 years of strong-arm rule.

On August 3, the Mauritanian military, including members of the presidential guard (BASEP), seized control of key points in the capital of Nouakchott. They took advantage of President Taya's attendance at the funeral of Saudi King Fahd to organize the coup, which took place without loss of life. The officers, calling themselves the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, released the following statement:

The national armed forces and security forces have unanimously decided to put a definitive end to the oppressive activities of the defunct authority, which our people have suffered from during the past years. (BBC)

The Military Council later issued another statement naming as president Col. Ould Mohamed Vall, Director of the national police force, the Sûreté Nationale, since 1987, and listing 16 other officers as members.

Col. Mohamed Vall was once regarded as a firm ally of the now-ousted president Sid'Ahmed Taya, even aiding him in the original coup that brought him to power, and later serving as his security chief. This high-level betrayal of the former president suggests broad discontent within the branches of local government, which is further supported by the lack of bloodshed and the population's support of the rebel militaries.

Applauded by the Mauritanian people, but cautiously watched by the international community, the coup has since been generally accepted, while the military junta has promised to organize elections within two years.

Parliamentary and municipal elections were held on the 19 November 2006 [1].

Israel's recognition by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was maintained by the new regime.

Dispute with Woodside Petroleum

In February 2006, the new Mauritanian government denounced amendments to an oil contract made by former Leader Ould Taya with Woodside Petroleum, an Australian company. In 2004, Woodside had agreed to invest $US 600 million in developing Mauritania's Chinguetti offshore oil project. The controversial amendments, which Mauritanian authorities declared had been signed "outside the legal framework of normal practice, to the great detriment of our country", could cost Mauritania up to $200 million a year, according to BBC News. Signed by Woodside two weeks after the February 1, 2005, legislation authorizing the four amendments, they provided for a lower state quota in the profit-oil, and reduced taxes by 15 percent in certain zones. They also eased environmental constraints and extended the length and scope of the exploitation and exploration monopoly, among other measures.

The disputed amendments were signed by former Oil Minister Zeidane Ould Hmeida in February 2004 and March 2005. Hmeida was arrested in January 2006 on charges of "serious crimes against the country's essential economic interests".

Nouakchott's authorities declared that the government would likely seek international arbitration, which Woodside (which operated for Hardman, BG Group, Premier, ROC Oil, Fusion, Petronas, Dana Petroleum, Energy Africa and the Hydrocarbons Mauritanian Society) also contemplated.

Discovered in 2001, Chinguetti has proven reserves of about 120,000,000 barrels (19,000,000 m³) of oil. At the end of December 2005, authorities estimated that in 2006, the oil profits would be 47 billion ouguiyas (about US$180 million) and represent a quarter of the state budget, according to RFI.

2007 Presidential election

The first fully democratic Presidential election since 1960 occurred on 11 March 2007. The election is the final transfer from military to civilian rule following the military coup in 2005. This is the first time the president will have been selected by ballot in the country's history.

The election was won by Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

Slavery is still said to exist in Mauritania, some 100 years after slavery officially ended in the West and since it was officially abolished in the country in 1981.[2]

2008 coup d'état

On August 6, 2008, Mauritania's presidential spokesman Abdoulaye Mamadou Ba said President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef and the Interior minister, were arrested by renegade Senior Mauritanian army officers, unknown troops and a group of generals, and were held under house arrest at the Presidential palace in Nouakchott. In the apparently successful and bloodless coup d'état, Abdallahi's daughter Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi said, "The security agents of the BASEP (Presidential Security Battalion) came to our home and took away my father." The coup plotters are top fired Mauritania’s security forces, which include General Muhammad Ould ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz, General Muhammad Ould Al-Ghazwani, General Philippe Swikri, and Brigadier General (Aqid) Ahmed Ould Bakri. Mauritanian lawmaker, Mohammed Al Mukhtar, announced that "many of the country's people were supporting the takeover attempt and the government is 'an authoritarian regime'" and that the president had "marginalized the majority in parliament."

After the 2008 coup

In August 2019, former General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani was sworn in as Mauritania’s tenth president since its independence from France in 1960. His predecessor Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ran the African desert country for 10 years. The ruling party Union for the Republic (UPR) was founded by Aziz in 2009 and renamed to Equity Party in 2022. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani's victory in the 2019 Mauritanian presidential election was presented as having been the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence. In June 2024, President Ghazouani was re-elected for a second term.

Executive branch

Main article: Government of Mokhtar Ould Djay

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since

Legislative branch

The Parliament (Barlamane/Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Al Jamiya al-Wataniyah/Assemblée Nationale) has 176 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh/Sénat) has 56 members, 53 members elected for a six-year term by municipal councillors with one third renewed every two years and 3.

Political parties and elections

Main articles: List of political parties in Mauritania and Elections in Mauritania

Presidential elections

Main article: 2019 Mauritanian presidential election

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Mohamed Ould Ghazouani	Union for the Republic	483,007	52.00
	Biram Dah Abeid	Democratic Alternation Pole	172,649	18.59
	Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar	Independent	165,995	17.87
	Kane Hamidou Baba	Coalition Living Together	80,777	8.70
	Mohamed Ould Maouloud	Union of the Forces of Progress	22,656	2.44
	Mohamed Lemine El Mourteji El Wafi	Independent	3,688	0.40
Total			928,772	100.00
Valid votes			928,772	96.04
Invalid votes			28,796	2.98
Blank votes			9,504	0.98
Total votes			967,072	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,544,132	62.63
Source: Constitutional Council

Tables

Results by wilaya

Wilaya	Ghazouani		Abeid		Boubacar		Baba		Maouloud		El Wavi			Neutral		Null
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%		Votes	%	Votes	%
Adrar	16,743	68.88%	1,514	6.23%	5,009	20.61%	226	0.93%	751	3.09%	63	0.26%		178	0.71%	668	2.66%
Assaba	47,275	68.19%	10,702	15.44%	8,805	12.70%	921	1.33%	1,418	2.05%	203	0.29%		305	0.42%	2,496	3.46%
Brakna	46,038	50.64%	10,643	11.71%	15,947	17.54%	16,836	18.52%	1,291	1.42%	160	0.18%		1,350	1.42%	2,753	2.90%
Dakhlet Nouadhibou	14,248	30.04%	15,587	32.86%	10,713	22.59%	5,534	11.67%	1,075	2.27%	273	0.58%		491	1.00%	1,010	2.06%
Gorgol	23,594	35.95%	21,429	32.65%	3,451	5.26%	15,196	23.16%	1,795	2.74%	158	0.24%		937	1.36%	2,435	3.53%
Guidimagha	19,454	41.69%	16,131	34.56%	4,021	8.62%	6,461	13.84%	529	1.13%	73	0.16%		573	1.16%	1,958	3.98%
Hodh Ech Chargui	75,463	81.80%	2,877	3.12%	12,156	13.18%	367	0.40%	594	0.64%	799	0.87%		336	0.35%	2,809	2.94%
Hodh El Gharbi	52,350	75.07%	3,421	4.91%	11,647	16.70%	625	0.90%	1,430	2.05%	266	0.38%		243	0.34%	1,849	2.57%
Inchiri	5,659	60.67%	753	8.07%	2,244	24.06%	472	5.06%	180	1.93%	19	0.20%		94	0.98%	193	2.01%
Nouakchott-Nord	29,055	39.77%	15,003	20.54%	22,558	30.88%	2,776	3.80%	3,133	4.29%	534	0.73%		824	1.08%	2,368	3.11%
Nouakchott-Ouest	25,379	34.89%	20,055	27.57%	13,468	18.51%	10,124	13.92%	3,414	4.69%	306	0.42%		1,164	1.53%	2,386	2,386
Nouakchott-Sud	30,889	31.39%	30,621	31.12%	18,742	19.05%	15,054	15.30%	2,667	2.71%	433	0.44%		1,472	1.43%	3,203	3.11%
Tagant	19,467	73.47%	1,105	4.17%	4,622	17.44%	73	0.28%	1,186	4.48%	44	0.17%		152	0.56%	549	2.02%
Tiris Zemmour	8,772	44.07%	2,991	15.03%	5,690	28.59%	1,834	9.21%	539	2.71%	77	0.39%		174	0.84%	556	2.69%
Trarza	65,068	57.77%	17,150	15.23%	25,021	22.22%	2,808	2.49%	2,369	2.10%	211	0.19%		1,119	0.96%	3,352	2.86%
Diaspora	3,553	35.73%	2,667	26.82%	1,901	19.12%	1,470	14.78%	285	2.87%	69	0.69%	92	0.90%	211	2.06%
Total	483,007	52.00%	172,649	18.59%	165,995	17.87%	80,777	8.70%	22,656	2.44%	3,688	0.40%	9,504	0.98%	28,796	2.98%
Source: Constitutional Council

Results by moughataa

Moughataa	Ghazouani		Abeid		Boubacar		Baba		Maouloud		El Wavi			Neutral		Null
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%		Votes	%	Votes	%
Aïoun	12,673	71.01%	897	5.03%	3,779	21.17%	40	0.22%	379	2.12%	80	0.45%		52	0.28%	451	2.46%
Akjoujt	3,422	59.27%	300	5.20%	1,622	28.09%	288	4.99%	128	2.22%	14	0.24%		64	1.08%	95	1.60%
Aleg	20,143	64.45%	2,324	7.44%	8,027	25.68%	286	0.92%	427	1.37%	49	0.16%		137	0.42%	935	2.89%
Amourj
Aoujeft	4,413	77.75%	81	1.43%	797	14.04%	19	0.33%	355	6.25%	11	0.19%		24	0.42%	73	1.26%
Arafat	19,730	44.28%	7,486	16.80%	12,439	27.92%	2,859	6.42%	1,725	3.87%	318	0.71%		508	1.10%	1,289	2.78%
Atar	9,333	63.89%	1,237	8.47%	3,629	24.84%	190	1.30%	181	1.24%	38	0.26%		138	0.90%	516	3.38%
Bababé	3,487	36.52%	1,121	11.74%	483	5.06%	4,378	45.85%	63	0.66%	16	0.17%		328	3.24%	263	2.59%
Barkéol
Bassiknou
Bénichab	2,237	62.96%	453	12.75%	622	17.51%	184	5.18%	52	1.46%	5	0.14%		30	0.82%	98	2.66%
Bir Moghrein
Boghé	5,820	30.29%	3,834	19.96%	1,738	9.05%	7,433	38.69%	346	1.80%	41	0.21%		482	2.38%	551	2.72%
Boumdeid
Boutilimit
Chami	1,818	54.40%	441	13.20%	977	29.23%	38	1.14%	55	1.65%	13	0.39%		53	1.52%	84	2.41%
Chinguetti	1,611	67.13%	167	6.96%	386	16.08%	16	0.67%	207	8.63%	13	0.54%		9	0.36%	63	2.55%
Dar Naïm	8,927	37.59%	6,327	26.64%	6,145	25.87%	1,455	6.13%	835	3.52%	61	0.26%		303	1.21%	900	3.61%
Djiguenni
El Mina	5,985	20.37%	13,193	44.90%	3,142	10.69%	6,619	22.52%	391	1.33%	56	0.19%		543	1.75%	1,047	3.38%
F'Déirick
Ghabou
Guerou
Kaédi
Kankoussa
Keur Macène
Kiffa
Koubenni	12,456	67.02%	1,470	7.91%	3,646	19.62%	300	1.61%	630	3.39%	84	0.45%		84	0.44%	614	3.18%
Ksar	9,623	46.13%	3,862	18.51%	5,395	25.86%	923	4.42%	971	4.65%	87	0.42%		304	1.39%	747	3.41%
M'Bagne
M'Bout
Maghama
Magta Lahjar
Méderdra
Monguel
Moudjéria
N'Beiket Lahwach
Néma
Nouadhibou	12,430	28.19%	15,146	34.35%	9,736	22.08%	5,496	12.47%	1,020	2.31%	260	0.59%		438	0.96%	926	2.04%
Ouad Naga
Ouadane	1,386	85.45%	29	1.79%	197	12.15%	1	0.06%	8	0.49%	1	0.06%		7	0.43%	16	0.97%
Oualata
Ould Yengé
R'Kiz
Riyad	5,174	21.15%	9,942	40.64%	3,161	12.92%	5,576	22.79%	551	2.25%	59	0.24%		421	1.63%	867	3.37%
Rosso
Sebkha	2,720	13.04%	9,795	46.97%	983	4.71%	7,018	33.65%	304	1.46%	35	0.17%		386	1.75%	780	3.54%
Sélibaby
Tamchekett	9,449	83.90%	399	3.54%	1,297	11.52%	25	0.22%	74	0.66%	18	0.16%		23	0.20%	188	1.64%
Tevragh Zeina	13,036	42.01%	6,398	20.62%	7,090	22.85%	2,183	7.04%	2,139	6.89%	184	0.59%		474	1.46%	859	2.65%
Teyarett	8,493	40.08%	3,808	17.97%	6,659	31.43%	985	4.65%	1,099	5.19%	144	0.68%		266	1.21%	596	2.70%
Tichitt
Tidjikja
Timbédra
Tintane	17,772	80.62%	655	2.97%	2,925	13.27%	260	1.18%	347	1.57%	84	0.38%		84	0.37%	596	2.62%
Toujounine	11,635	41.37%	4,868	17.31%	9,754	34.69%	336	1.19%	1,199	4.26%	329	1.17%		255	0.87%	872	2.98%
Zouérate
Africa
America
Asia
Europe
Total	483,007	52.00%	172,649	18.59%	165,995	17.87%	80,777	8.70%	22,656	2.44%	3,688	0.40%	9,504	0.98%	28,796	2.98%
Source: Constitutional Council

Parliamentary elections

Main article: 2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election

Administrative divisions

Mauritania is divided in 12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza.

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.